Self-rocking cradle.



No. 856,580. PATENTBD' JUNE 11, .1907.

L. G. HANTSKE.

SELF ROGKING CRADLE. APPLICATION FILED 0011.2. 1900.

u I II II I II I 3 $172.

MI I g THE NORRIS PET UNITED STATEtl PATENT fll llflfji i.

SELF-ROCKINGVCRADLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 11, 1907.

Application filed October 2, 1906- Serial No. 337,151.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEO C. HAN'rsKE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Baltimore, State of Maryland, have invented certain new anduseful improvements in Self-Rocking Cradles, of which the following is aspecification.

The primary object of my invention is to provide an improved selfrocking cradle which may be applied practically to a cradle structure ofany of the ordinary types, without the necessity of special tools orspecial knowledge of mechanics, and which will be of simple and durableconstruction, and of efficient operation. 7

A further object of the invention is to provide, more specifically, anattachment for a cradle which embodies a spring motor designed toautomatically rock the cradle and which also embodies a novelconstruction and arrangement of actuating straps or cords that may beattached to convenient portions of the cradle to rock the same, and theinvention also has for its object to provide improved means for holdingthe rockers of the cradle in position on the sills or end members of thesupporting frame that carries the motor mechanism.

For a full description. of the invention and the merits thereof and alsoto acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means forefl'ecting the result. reference is to be had to thefollowingdescription and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an end elevation of a cradle embodying the improvements ofmy inven tion. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of one end of the cradle. Fig.3 is a detail view of a regulating or brake mechanism employed. Fig. 4is a detail perspective view illustrating the connection between theactuating strap and its crank. Fig. 5 is a detail sectional viewillustrating the means for holding the rockers of the cradle on thesupporting frame. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the parts illustratedin Fig. 5.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the foll0win descriptionand indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same referencecharacters.

Referring to the drawings the numeral 1 designates a cradle which may beof any of the ordinary designs or types, and 2 designates the rockersthereof.

3 designates one end of a supporting frame,

the two ends of which are connected to' gether by longitudinal bars 4.

Mounted upon the bars 1 or otherwise secured within the frame, is amotor casing 5 within which is mounted the spring actuated. master wheel6 having a ratchet and pawl mechanism 7, the pinion S meshing with saidmaster wheel and mounted upon the shaft 9. the gear wheel 10 alsosecured upon said shaft and meshing with the pinion 11 on a countershaft 12, and the gear wheel 13 secured on the shaft 12 and meshing witha pinion 14 on the actuating crank shaft 15.

To the outwardly projecting end of the crank 16 of the shaft 15, theactuating strap 17 is connected preferably by means of a loop or eye 18intermediate of its length and loosely receiving the said end of thecrank. The actuating strap or cord 17 passes from the crank shaft inopposite directions under pulleys 21 mounted in boxes on one side of theadjacent end member of the frame, and the ends of said strap passupwardly from these pulleys and are provided at their extremities withloops which are slipped over pins 19 projecting from plates secured tothe end of the cradle, the said loops of the strap being secured on saidpins by nuts 20 or simi lar detachable fastening means.

It is to be understood that the two rockers 2 of the cradle aresupported upon the end members of the supporting frame, as indicated inFig. 1. Hence, as the gearing before'described is actuated by the springoperated master wheel 6, the crank shaft 15 will be retated and thecrank 16 revolved to first pull upon one end of the actuating strap orcord 17 and then upon the other end, the pull alternating and obviouslycausing the cradle to rock from side to side. Preferably the pins 19 andpulleys 21 are in vertical alinement with each other so that a directdownward pull will be exerted on each side of the cradle alternately.

In order to regulate the speed with which the cradle rocks, and to stopit entirely if desired, I h ave in the present instance provided afriction drum 22, fixed on the crank shaft 15 and have also provided afriction band 23 preferably of flexible metal, said band partiallyencircling the drum as indicated best in Fig. 3. One end of this band isstationary and is secured to the motor casing 5 by a ICC cross bar orthe like, while the other end of said band is provided with a screwthreaded aperture in which the threaded end of a regulating rod 24works. By manipulating this rod, the band 23 may be caused tofrictionally engage the periphery of the drum 22 to a greater or lessdegree, for the purposes above set forth.

It is essential in an apparatus of this character that means be providedto hold the rockers of the cradle in their proper position upon theupper edge of the end members 3. In the present instance I haveillustrated for this purpose, loops or eyes 25 and 26, se curedrespectively to the rockers and to the said end members of thesupporting frame, at the middle of the rockers, as illustrated. inFig. 1. The lowermost loop or eye 26 which is secured to each of the endmembers 3 of the supporting frame, is adapted to have a swiveling orrocking movement in a vertical plane, and a connecting pin 27 isinserted through both of said eyes and has a slightly oscillatorymovement with the lower eye when the cradle is rocked. By this arrange-'ment it is obvious that the cradle will be free to rock about itsmedian line while at the same time all sidewise slipping of the rockerson the end members of the supporting frame will be prevented.

From the foregoing description in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, it will be seen that I have provided a verysi-mple andellicient construction of self-rocking cradle, the parts of which willbe durable and not liable to get out of order.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A device of the character described, comprising a supportingframework, a cradle mounted to rock on said framework, a motor drivencrank shaft in said framework, pulleys mounted in the framework belowone of the rockers of the cradle, and an actuating strap connected at anintermediate point to the crank of said shaft, said crank extending inopposite directions from said shaft and underneath said pulleys andthence extending upwardly, the ends of said strap being connected to theopposite sides of said cradle at 5 points substantially vertical to thepulleys whereby as the crank turns a direct downward pull will beexerted first upon one side of the cradle and then upon the other.

2. A device of the character described, 5 comprising a supporting framework, a cradle mounted to rock on said frame work, a motor driven crankshaft mounted in said frame work, pulleys mounted in the frame workbelow one of the rockers of the cradle, and an actuating strap connectedat an intermediate point to the crank of said shaft, said strapextending in opposite directions from said crank and underneath saidpulleys and thence extending upwardly, the ends of said 6 strap beingconnected to opposite sides of the cradle.

3. A device of the character described, comprising a supporting framework, a cradle mounted to rock on said framework, a motor 7 driven crankshaft mounted in said frame work, pulleys mounted in the frame workbelow one of the rockers of the cradle, and an actuating strap having aneye at an intermediate point designed to receive one end of the 7 crankof said shaft, said strap extending in opposite directions from the eyeand underneath said pulleys and thence upwardly, the ends of said strapbeing connected to the- 0pposite sides of the cradle.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LEO C. HANTSKE.

Witnesses:

ARTHUR BALLACH, CONRAD LEHR.

